Thailand confirms 1st case of new, more contagious mpox strain

Bangkok: The Thai Health Ministry confirmed the first case in the country of a new, potentially more dangerous Clade 1b strain of the mpox virus.

The virus was earlier found in a 66-year-old patient who initially arrived in Thailand from Africa on August 14 without symptoms, but was diagnosed with mpox after the onset of symptoms.

"The Disease Control Department has released the results of a study conducted by the ministry's science department that confirmed the detection of the Clade 1b strain of mpox", the ministry's department of disease control said in a statement on Thursday.

The Clade 1b strain is considered to be more contagious than the Clade 1 and Clade 2 strains that were previously detected in the country. It spreads through airborne transmission, although not as easily as COVID-19, the ministry earlier said. The illness typically does not progress to a severe state, and patients recover without intensive medical treatment, except in cases of weakened immunity where the disease may take a more severe course, according to the ministry.

Last week, the World Health Organisation declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern.